Wayne Rooney to miss Liverpool clash

Manchester United striker still not fully fit

Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed Nani and Anderson will return to the Manchester United squad for Sunday's Barclays Premier League encounter with Liverpool.

Nani has been sidelined since the beginning of November with a hamstring injury while Anderson has been missing since he also reported a hamstring problem in early December.

However, Wayne Rooney definitely misses out with a knee problem.

"Nani is back training and Anderson has been back for 10 days. They will be in the squad," said Ferguson.

"But Wayne is still out. He will start training today.

"He is not far away and should be available for the FA Cup replay with West Ham on Wednesday."

Nani missed 14 games during his spell on the sidelines, while Brazilian midfielder Anderson was out for eight.

The racism dispute between Luis Suarez and Patrice Evra was put to bed with a pre-match handshake at Anfield in September, and Ferguson must now concentrate on stopping Liverpool's clear danger man.

It is not a task he wants to get too hung up by.

"We have to concentrate on ourselves," said Ferguson.

"We respect every opponent and Luis Suarez is no different from any other good player we come up against."

Meanwhile, Ferguson has distanced himself from the heightened transfer talk surrounding the Old Trafford outfit.

Red Devils sources have already rejected speculation linking United with Chelsea duo Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole.

However, it has been claimed a deal for Crystal Palace's young England winger Wilfried Zaha is imminent.

Ferguson, who tends to avoid such discussions, was not entering the debate.

"There is nothing to report," he said.

"It is January. You (the media) are all getting a bit desperate. There is nothing to tell you."

PA